Coupling pin



Patented June v6, 1939 UNITI-:D STATES `PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to coupling pins and, more particularly, those which are used on mine cars, although not limited thereto.

In mining, the ore is usually hauled out of the mines in trains made up of a considerable number of cars which must be securely coupled together. Quite often the coupling means for such cars fall out when the cars are tilted to dump their contents. The cars often run on inclines, and' their constant vibrating and shifting frequently causes the coupling means to work itself upwardly and outwardly; causing certain cars of the train to break away, which may cause disastrous results.

The object of the present invention is to provide a coupling pin which will neither fall out when the cars are tilted, nor work itself out when the cars are shifted or vibrated in their movements.

Another object is to provide a coupling pin which can be released only upon positive manual operation and which is therefore compara.- tively fool-proof.

'I'hefforegoing and other objects will be apparent after referring to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the device of the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectionalview on the line lI-II of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure l.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, .the numeral 2 designates the body portion of the coupling pin of the invention. This body portion 2 comprises a cylinder having a radial ilange 3 adjacent one of its extremities, while the other extremity thereof is rounded, as shown at 5. The cylindrical body portion 2 has a central bore 8 extending thereinto from the extremity thereof which is adjacent the radial flange 3. The bore i terminates short of the rounded extremity 5 of the cylindrical body portion 2.

Adjacent the rounded extremity 5 an aperture I extends radially through the cylindrical body portion 2. This aperture 8 has parallel sides 8 and a flat right-angular bottom I8. 'I'he top of the aperture 8 is also ilat but extends diagonally, as shown at I2. v

A lug I4 having a substantially rectangula body portion and a triangular extension I5 is pivotally disposed Within the aperture 8. The pivoted lug I4 is so constructed and arranged that when its axis is disposed in parallelism with the bottom I8 of the aperture l in the body portion 2 of the coupling pin, its triangular extension I5 will extend outside thereof; and when the lug I4 is pivoted toward the radial flange 3 on the body portion 2 of the coupling pin, its triangular extension I5 will seat against the diagonal top Wall I2 of the aperture 8 and entirely within the latter. According to this construction, the coupling pin is held within a coupling by the radial ilange 3 at one end and the pivoted lug il, when in extended position, at the other end thereof; and the coupling pin may be easily removed by pivoting the lug I4 into a position wherein it is entirely Within the aperture 8.

The extremity of the body portion 2 which is adjacent the radial ange 3 is provided with a handle I1. This handle il is shown in the present instance as comprising a pair of assembled plates which are connected to the end of the body portion 2 of the coupling pin in any suitable manner as, for instance, by welding. These zo plates, which comprise the handle il, are provided with large complementary apertures l8 to enable a hand-hold, whereby the coupling pin may be easily manipulated. A disk 28 is disposed between the plates which comprise the handle I1 and is pivoted therebetween at one of its ends. This disk 20 is centrally. apertured, as shown at 2|.

That portion of the side of the disk 20 which is immediately over the central bore 6 of the body portion 2 of the coupling is provided with a slot 22 in which there is disposed a pin 23. This pin 23 carries a pivoted plug 24 which extends through and beyond the handle i1 and into the central bore 6 of the body portion 2 and carries a downwardly extending rod 25, the lower end of which is connected to the lug I4 in the aperture 8.

vThe side of the disk 20 which is opposite that carrying the pivoted plug 24 rests against one end of a coil spring 21 which is carried between the plates of the handle I1 in a recess 29. The coil spring 21 is retained in the recess 29 by a plug 30 which is threaded into the plates of the handle; and its compression adjusted thereby.

According to the foregoing construction, the lug I 4 in the aperture 8 in the body portion 2 of the coupling pin can easily be moved into and out of locking position by the linger movement of the hand of an operator. That is to say, the operator extends the fingers of his hand through the apertures I8 in the plates of the handle I'I andthrough the aperture 2| in the disk 28 and, by his ilnger movement, is enabled to insert or remove the coupling into or out of the operative parts A and B of a car coupling.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modiilcations may be made without departing from the scope oi' my invention, as deilned by the following claim.

A coupling pin comprising a main body portion having a central longitudinal bore, a recess formed on said'body portion adjacent one end thereof, an integral radial ilange formed on the other end of said body portion ,for contacting one of the coupling members, a pivoted lug disposed on said body portion within said recess, a

handle carried by` said body portion adjacent said radial ilange, said handle including a pair oi plates having complementary apertures and a disk pivotally disposed between said plates. said .disk provided with a slot disposed over the cen- 

